It was followed by Basildon, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock with five cases each, up from two each, with four cases in Tendring, three each in Castle Point, Chelmsford and Epping Forest, two each in Rochford and Braintree, and one each in Brentwood, Harlow and Uttlesford.

Across England and Wales, 2,128 suspected cases of scarlet fever were reported in the month-long window, with 1,159 cases and 1,061 cases in 2017 and 2016 respectively.